Spring fire effects on two Aristida/Bothriochloa native pastures in central Queensland, Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 485
Author(s):  
R. G. Silcock ◽  
T. J. Hall ◽  
P. Jones ◽  
P. G. Filet ◽  
J. Douglas
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Marked Change ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Eucalypt Woodlands ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
The Many

Controlled burns are commonly used to suppress woody plant regrowth and to remove accumulated unpalatable pasture from rangelands and occasionally to alter pasture composition in native pastures in central Queensland, Australia. Outcomes can be somewhat unpredictable and short-term, and reliable evidence is needed to confirm the likely long-term efficacy of such fires. We imposed a regime of repeated spring burns on native Aristida/Bothriochloa pastures growing in two contrasting eucalypt woodlands of central Queensland to determine the effects on pasture composition, ground cover, landscape stability and woody plant recruitment, all in the absence of grazing. The sites selected were a silver-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus melanophloia F.Muell.) woodland and a poplar box (E. populnea F.Muell.) woodland. Weather conditions precluded spring burns in 3 years out of 7 at the silver-leaved ironbark site and in 2 years out of 8 at the poplar box site. The burn intensity was variable, and frequent fires produced a marked change in abundance of only a few pasture species. Depending on the site, fires significantly increased the frequency of Enneapogon spp., Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T.Blake and Dichanthium sericeum (R.Br.) A.Camus and reduced the frequency of some minor components such as Cymbopogon spp., Panicum effusum R.Br., Cenchrus ciliaris L. and, ephemerally, that of some forbs. Contrary to expectation, only Aristida calycina R.Br. declined in abundance among the many Aristida species present, and the abundance of Heteropogon contortus (L.) P.Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult. barely increased under regular spring fires. The total germinable seeds of herbaceous species in the soil each spring was significantly reduced by burning in the previous spring. Repeated spring fires rarely reinforced any initial change induced by burning, and slightly lowered average ground cover as well as various indices of landscape stability and ecosystem functionality. Changes produced were not always consistent across the two communities. Though prescribed burning is often important for maintaining grazing productivity and landscape values, very regular use is not recommended.

Soil temperatures and seed burial in relation to the performance of Heteropogon contortus and Themeda australis in burnt native woodland pastures in Eastern Queensland

1969 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Tothill
Keyword(s):  
Ground Cover ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Seed Burial ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Average Maximum ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Native Pastures

The factors underlying the increasing dominance of Heteropogon contortus (bunch or black spear grass) as a result of regularly burning native pastures in eastern Queensland have been investigated. In the subtropical environment of this experiment the removal of ground cover by burning or other means significantly increased the average maximum temperature of the surface soil. Burning favoured the germination of buried H. contortus seed at a time when ambient temperatures were too low for this to occur in unburnt situations. In late seasons and in the seasonally dry tropics insufficient soil moisture would tend to limit growth and germination until ambient temperatures are high, in which case the burning effect would be less pronounced. The efficient seed burial mechanism of H. contortus places it at an establishment advantage over other commonly associated species such as blue grasses (Bothriochloa, Dichanthium) and others whose seeds remain largely in the surface litter. Fire destroys much of this litter, the microhabitat for seed germination at ground level, and some of the weaker perennial plants. The implications of these results in relation to the increased dominance of either H. contortus or Themeda australis (kangaroo grass) are discussed.

Grazing Modifies Woody and Herbaceous Components of North Queensland Woodlands.

1996 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Scanlan ◽  
AJ Pressland ◽  
DJ Myles
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
Percentage Contribution ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
Tussock Grasses

Grazed and exclosed areas within north Queensland woodlands were studied over a six-year period which included a drought followed by an above average rainfall period. Despite drought conditions, woody plant density increased, with exclosed areas showing a greater increase than grazed areas. During the drought period, a pattern of herbaceous vegetation strips interspersed with bare areas developed. Standing dry matter and ground cover increased rapidly in response to above average rainfall following the drought. Also, the pattern of strips became less apparent during the more favourable growth conditions. The percentage contribution of native tussock grasses (principally Heteropogon contortus) to total pasture dry matter varied to a greater extent over the six-year period than the naturalised stoloniferous Bothriochloa pertusa.

Establishment of four pasture grasses and Siratro from seed oversown into dense and open speargrass pastures

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (126) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Cook
Keyword(s):  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
Pasture Grasses ◽  
Macroptilium Atropurpureum ◽  
Signal Grass ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Better Than

In two experiments, seed of Gayndah and Biloela buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume), signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) and Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) was broadcast into a range of seedbeds imposed on native speargrass (Heteropogon contortus) pastures that had either been cleared of trees 4-5 years before sowing (C) or had the trees killed at sowing (K). The seedbeds were: untreated control (NP); mown to 3 cm before and at sowing (M); M followed by regular clipping (MD); burnt (B); B followed by regular clipping (BD); and herbicide (H). Seed was also sown into a cultivated seedbed (P) in C. The number of plants established 15-16 months after sowing was highest in the cultivated seedbed and lowest in seedbeds where competition from the native grasses was greatest. Competition was greater in C than in K, the native pastures in C having about three times more dry matter than those in K. Burning reduced competition but also reduced seedling emergence. It increased establishment slightly in K but not in C. The M and MD treatments failed to increase establishment over that of the NP control. Herbicides reduced competition and increased establishment in C and K, but only for signal grass and Siratro in C when drier conditions occurred in the second experiment. Siratro established better than the grasses in the presence of competition when weather conditions were favourable, but there was little Siratro or grass establishment when water deficits occurred soon after emergence, especially in C

Evaluation of the CONSUME and FOFEM fuel consumption models in pine and mixed hardwood forests of the eastern United States

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 784-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. Prichard ◽  
Eva C. Karau ◽  
Roger D. Ottmar ◽  
Maureen C. Kennedy ◽  
James B. Cronan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Eastern United States ◽  
Validation Data ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Fine Fuels

Reliable predictions of fuel consumption are critical in the eastern United States (US), where prescribed burning is frequently applied to forests and air quality is of increasing concern. CONSUME and the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM), predictive models developed to estimate fuel consumption and emissions from wildland fires, have not been systematically evaluated for application in the eastern US using the same validation data set. In this study, we compiled a fuel consumption data set from 54 operational prescribed fires (43 pine and 11 mixed hardwood sites) to assess each model’s uncertainties and application limits. Regions of indifference between measured and predicted values by fuel category and forest type represent the potential error that modelers could incur in estimating fuel consumption by category. Overall, FOFEM predictions have narrower regions of indifference than CONSUME and suggest better correspondence between measured and predicted consumption. However, both models offer reliable predictions of live fuel (shrubs and herbaceous vegetation) and 1 h fine fuels. Results suggest that CONSUME and FOFEM can be improved in their predictive capability for woody fuel, litter, and duff consumption for eastern US forests. Because of their high biomass and potential smoke management problems, refining estimates of litter and duff consumption is of particular importance.

Beef production from native pastures sown to fine-stem stylo in the Burnett region of south-eastern Queensland

1979 ◽  
Vol 19 (97) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
EJ Bowen ◽  
KG Rickert
Keyword(s):  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Management Options ◽  
North West ◽  
Heteropogon Contortus ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates

At Gayndah, south-eastern Queensland, a native Heteropogon contortus pasture, sown to fine-stem stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis var. intermedia), and invaded by red natal grass (Rhynchelytrum repens), was grazed by weaner steers from June 1 in three treatments : heavy and light put-and-take grazing for five years from 1971, and set-stocked at 1.37 animals ha-1 for two years from 1974. Weight gains in the put-and-take treatments were not significantly different. The mean annual liveweight gain was 167 kg animal-1 at a mean equivalent stocking rate of 1.47 animals ha-1. Over the same period unsown native pasture, cleared of timber, gave a gain of 62 kg animal-1 at 0.62 animals ha-1. In all seasons except summer, weight gains declined linearly with stocking rate and in 1972-73, with a mean equivalent stocking rate of 2.66 animals ha-1, the annual gain was almost halved. When equivalent stocking rates were 0.9, 0.9, 1.8 and 1.2 animals ha-1 in winter, spring, summer and autumn, the respective gains were 4, 73, 65 and 45 kg animal-1. The set-stocked treatment had a mean annual gain of 147 kg animal-1. At another site 116 km north-west of Gayndah, two paddocks of Heteropogon contortus and fine-stem stylo were set-stocked with weaners over four years. One paddock had four applications of superphosphate of 250 kg ha-1. The mean annual liveweight gains were significantly different, being 154 and 143 kg animal-1 in the fertilized and unfertilized paddocks at mean stocking rates of 0.83 and 0.74 animals ha-1, respectively. In a grazing protection experiment the density of fine-stem stylo declined exponentially with an accumulation of pasture dry matter in spring and summer. Heavy continuous grazing, an annual hay cut and an accidental fire all increased the density of fine-stem stylo. Management options to maintain the density of fine-stem stylo and the relative importance of the legume and grass to animal production are discussed.

Prescribed Burning for Stand Conversion in Budworm-killed Balsam Fir: An Ontario Case History

1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. McRae
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Stand Conversion

Recent spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) infestations have resulted in widespread areas of balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) mortality in Ontario, and there is growing interest in reestablishing these areas quickly as productive forests. One technique being used is prescribed fire after a salvage and bulldozer tramping operation. A 445-ha prescribed burn was carried out under moderate fire danger conditions in northern Ontario. The site, which was covered by balsam fir fuel that had been killed by spruce budworm, was tramped to improve fire spread. Weather, fuel consumption, and fire effects are reported. The burn effectively reduced heavy surface fuel loadings and consequently planting on the site was easier. Key words: Prescribed burning, fire, spruce budworm. Choristoneura fumiferana, balsam fir, Abies balsamea, fuel consumption, site preparation, tramping, stand conversion.

Is fire a threatening process for Liopholis kintorei, a nationally listed threatened skink?

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danae Moore ◽  
Michael Ray Kearney ◽  
Rachel Paltridge ◽  
Steve McAlpin ◽  
Adam Stow
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Success ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Burrow System ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Key Sites ◽  
Primary Habitat ◽  
Experimental Burns

Context Prescribed burning is widely adopted as a conservation-management tool, with priorities largely being the protection of fire-sensitive plant communities, threatened fauna habitat and minimising the risk and impacts of broad-scale wildfire. However, an improved understanding of the ecological mechanisms that underpin species responses to fire will assist the development and refinement of prescribed-burning practice. Aims To examine the effect of fire on burrow-system occupancy and breeding success at different spatial and temporal scales for a threatened skink, Liopholis kintorei. Methods Experimental burns simulating different fire types (clean burn, patchy burn and no burn) were conducted at 30 L. kintorei burrow systems that were selected from within a 75-ha focal study area. Burrow-system occupancy was monitored daily for 1 month, then monthly for an additional 3 months. Breeding success was assessed once at all 30 burrow systems. Eight additional 1-km2 sites within L. kintorei habitat that had experienced some degree of fire 2 years earlier were selected from across Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary. Burrow-system occupancy and breeding success of L. kintorei at these sites was assessed once. Key results There was no significant effect of fire on burrow-system occupancy 1 month after experimental burns; however, burrow-system occupancy was significantly higher at unburnt sites 4 months after experimental burns and 2 years post-fire. Breeding success was significantly higher at unburnt sites than at clean-burnt and patchy-burnt sites. Conclusions Fire adversely affects L. kintorei, as demonstrated by a higher proportion of unoccupied burrow systems and fewer successful breeding events post-fire, particularly when all ground cover is lost. Implications Because fire is an inevitable and natural process within arid-zone spinifex grasslands, the primary habitat for L. kintorei, we recommend prescribed-burning practices that aim to maximise ground cover by reducing the frequency, intensity and size of fires. More specifically, we recommend fire exclusion from key sites within distinct localities where L. kintorei is known to be locally abundant. Depending on the size of these key sites, there may also be a need to construct strategic fire breaks within sites to ensure that any unwanted ignitions do not result in the loss of all vegetation cover.

scholarly journals Effects of an accidental dry-season fire on the reproductive phenology of two Neotropical savanna shrubs

2017 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 564-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Dodonov ◽  
C. B. Zanelli ◽  
D. M. Silva-Matos
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Woody Plant ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Plant Ecology ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Floral Buds ◽  
Savanna Vegetation ◽  
Eastern Brazil

Abstract Fire is a recurrent disturbance in savanna vegetation and savanna species are adapted to it. Even so, fire may affect various aspects of plant ecology, including phenology. We studied the effects of a spatially heterogeneous fire on the reproductive phenology of two dominant woody plant species, Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae) and Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), in a savanna area in South-eastern Brazil. The study site was partially burnt by a dry-season accidental fire in August 2006, and we monitored the phenolology of 30 burnt and 30 unburnt individuals of each species between September 2007 and September 2008. We used restricted randomizations to assess phenological differences between the burnt and unburnt individuals. Fire had negative effects on the phenology of M. albicans, with a smaller production of reproductive structures in general and of floral buds, total fruits, and ripe fruits in burnt plants. All unburnt but only 16% of the burnt M. albicans plants produced ripe fruits during the study. Fire effects on S. vinosa were smaller, but there was a greater production of floral buds and fruits (but not ripe fruits) by burnt plants; approximately 90% of the individuals of S. vinosa produced ripe fruits during the study, regardless of having been burnt or not. The differences between the two species may be related to S. vinosa’s faster growth and absence from the seed bank at the study site, whereas M. albicans grows more slowly and is dominant in the seed bank.

scholarly journals Opportunities for winter prescribed burning in mixed conifer plantations of the Sierra Nevada

Fire Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. York ◽  
Jacob Levine ◽  
Kane Russell ◽  
Joseph Restaino
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Conifer Plantations

Abstract Background Young, planted forests are particularly vulnerable to wildfire. High severity effects in planted forests translate to the loss of previous reforestation investments and the loss of future ecosystem service gains. We conducted prescribed burns in three ~35-year-old mixed conifer plantations that had previously been masticated and thinned during February in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of winter burning, which is not common in the Sierra Nevada, California. Results On average, 59% of fine fuels were consumed and the fires reduced shrub cover by 94%. The average percent of crown volume that was damaged was 25%, with no mortality observed in overstory trees 1 year following the fires. A plot level analysis of the factors of fire effects did not find strong predictors of fuel consumption. Shrub cover was reduced dramatically, regardless of the specific structure that existed in plots. We found a positive relationship between crown damage and the two variables of Pinus ponderosa relative basal area and shrub cover. But these were not particularly strong predictors. An analysis of the weather conditions that have occurred at this site over the past 20 years indicated that there have consistently been opportunities to conduct winter burns. On average, 12 days per winter were feasible for burning using our criteria. Windows of time are short, typically 1 or 2 days, and may occur at any time during the winter season. Conclusions This study demonstrates that winter burning can be an important piece of broader strategies to reduce wildfire severity in the Sierra Nevada. Preparing forest structures so that they can be more feasible to burn and also preparing burn programs so that they can be nimble enough to burn opportunistically during short windows are key strategies. Both small landowners and large agencies may be able to explore winter burning opportunities to reduce wildfire severity.

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